Journal of Plasma Physics

Table of Contents - 1990 - Volume 43, Issue 02  

Research Article

A theory of the relaxation of tokamak discharges

John E. Brandenburga1 p1

a1 Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, U.S.A.

Abstract

Tokamak equilibria are considered as extremum magnetic-energy states. Two quadratic invariants ∫Ψd3x, and ∫A.Bd3x are found to yield finite-beta equilibria in toroidal geometry. The theory predicts ‘bell’-shaped current profiles for relaxed discharges at finite beta. A ‘main-sequence’ curve of ql/q0 versus βp is presented for circular discharges with low ql and is found to form a limiting curve for experimental data.

(Received September 29 1989)

Correspondence:

p1 Present address: Mission Research Corporation, 8560 Cinderbed Road, Suite 700, Newington, Virginia 22122, U.S.A.